The Somali Bantu Association of San Antonio hosted the conference. Sessions included discussions about women's empowerment, English as a second language, Somali Bantu culture, networking and building better communities.

“Our mission is to expand,” Abdi said, “and welcome other Somali Bantus who are struggling in communities to come to the table with us so we can share experiences and work with each other.”

The network began in 2007, when the San Antonio and Houston associations contacted the Tucson group for help with assimilation issues. The group has expanded to include 35 other communities, spanning the country from New York to Idaho.

Abdi said the network has a telephone conference call once a month to support each other and talk about problems and issues. He said their goal is saving the next generation of Somali Bantus, an ethnic minority in their homeland.

One way to achieve that goal, he said, is teaching youth to follow the teachings of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. and former South African president Nelson Mandela.

“If we deviate, then we will not be surprised by how our generation could possibly be lost,” Abdi said. “And we cannot see all the sweetness of all this African culture.”

The group said the biggest challenges facing the Somali Bantu communities are education, parenting children in a Western culture and civic engagement.

“We need to connect with our neighborhood, see what they did and how they overcame their struggles,” Mohamed said. “We have to provide examples for them.”

They also talked about their successes, such as the increase in college graduates and applications for U.S. citizenship.

The four leaders said they all have college degrees. They estimated there are more than 300 graduates in the Somali Bantu communities nationwide.

Yusuf said he received his degree in hotel management from St. Philip's College and became a U.S. citizen on March 19, 2009.

“That's your birthday,” Rasulo said. “That's your American birthday.”

Yusuf said one crucial ingredient for future success is devising ways to help Somali elders maintain their influence in their new land. They all agreed that if their culture is to continue to thrive, they'll need the elders to pass their knowledge to younger generations.

“They are the backbone of our culture,” Rasulo said. “If he passes away, I've lost that part. He's my main point, my main vision.”